28.11.17
New rule changes will allow more people to give blood
New changes in the rules will allow more people to give blood who have engaged in certain sexual activities.
Previously, due to a lack of clinical evidence, people had been barred from giving blood if they had been involved in specific sexual acts within a year of the donation.
However, now the Department of Health says men who have had sex with other men and people who have had sex with a “high-risk” partner will be able to donate blood just three months after the act.
In addition, commercial sex workers, who have never previously been allowed to give blood, will now be subject to the same three-month restrictions.
Dr Gail Miflin, medical and research director at NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), said the changes followed a review by the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) which found that these changes would not affect the blood supply.
“The SaBTO review took into account the latest available medical and scientific evidence,” explained Miflin. “This included more information about the risk of acquiring infections that can be passed on in blood, more evidence on how well donors comply with our guidelines and also more evidence that supports the reliability of the blood screening tests we use.
“We have one of the safest blood supplies in the world. Anyone may require a blood transfusion in the future and so it’s in all our interests to ensure that we work hard to keep blood safe for patients.”
Before every donation, people must still complete a Donor Health Check and have a private health screening where they may be asked confidential questions based on their completed form.
The government has also submitted evidence as part of a wider European evidence evaluation on other issues which currently affect the giving of blood.
This includes proposals to reduce the waiting time for people who have had tattoos and body piercings (both licensed and unlicensed), acupuncture, endoscopy, and any history of prescribed IV or IM drug injected usage.
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